Winemaker Notes
This wine has a delicate ruby/purple color. The texture is fine and the tears appear with subtlety. The nose is open with great character. It is clean, fresh, fruity and aromatic; juicy cherry, blackberry, a touch of black pepper and some menthol notes. rich, around fresh blackcurrant, a hint of pepper and some licorice notes. The palate is greedy, fresh and full-bodied. The fruit appears right away, with fresh blackberry and spicy notes. The tannins are numerous and delicate. They give this wine a dense, deep, ripe character. The finish is long and well-balanced, marked by fruit and finesse.
The flesh of this wine calls for cuisine of taste and character; veal liver, well-seared and deglazed with a dash of raspberry vinegar, or a fine kidney apple. The fiber and juiciness of a nice slice of flank steak or onglet of beef will also echo its tannins. Tuna, prepared as tataki or even as sashimi, may also suit it; in this case, don't hesitate to serve it a few degrees lower (
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A lively, precise and textural Crozes-Hermitage with aromas of dark cherries, black pepper, purple flowers and a touch of roasted meat. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Refined and agile, with a succulent finish. From organically grown grapes.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Made from 100% Syrah, the 2023 Crozes-Hermitage is a classic wine in the vintage with its upfront, perfumed, spicy style. Red, blue, and black fruits, peppery herbs, potpourri, and spice notes all shine, and it's medium-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, soft tannins, and outstanding length.
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Vinous
Vinified from certified organic grapes, the strait-laced 2023 Crozes-Hermitage checks in at 13% alcohol. Spice box, blackberry and cedar notes are all amplified here, complemented by a citric flicker of grapefruit. Medium-bodied and concentrated, the tasty 2023 hits the palate with lovely intensity and checks out with staying power on the precise finish.
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Wine Spectator
A refined, lifted version, with gorgeous range to the floral aromatics and notes of singed bacon lard, plum and lavender. Ripe and round, with warm stone and graphite elements, showing salty, savory elegance as the sanguine intensity builds. Open and inviting yet with the energy to go the distance in the cellar.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Crozes-Hermitage is Northern Rhone’s largest appellation, surrounding the steep granite faces of Hermitage to its north and south. Here the rolling vineyards are less extreme and its soils, rich in clay-limestone and alluvial matter, produce Syrahs that range from fruity and charming to lush and seductive. The Syrahs of Crozes-Hermitage have more mass than those from St. Joseph but are less intense than those from Hermitage. While many are intended for early consumption, some of the best Syrahs from Crozes-Hermitage will age beautifully for 5-10 years.
Up to 15% of white grapes may theoretically be added to red Crozes at the time of fermentation but whether this is done or not depends on the decision of the winemaker. The best Crozes-Hermitage Syrahs will be fleshy with black fruit (currant, blackberry and black cherry) and bay leaf qualities, notes of tar and stone, and a well-concentrated finish of smooth tannins.
About a tenth of the wine produced in Crozes-Hermitage is white, primarily composed of Marsanne supplemented by smaller amounts of Roussanne.